Practical Research 1

Lesson 1: The Importance of Research in Daily Life

 Objective
The Learner is able to:
• Use appropriate kinds of research in making
decisions.
 Learning Competencies
• Share research experiences
and knowledge
• Explains the importance of
research in daily life
 Etymology
• First appeared in England,1577

• Comes from Middle French recerche and recercher, which

means “seek out, search closely”.

• Cercer come from the Latin circare meaning ”go about,

wander”, and from circus meaning “circle”.

• Oldest meaning: “careful search for facts” appeared in

English in the early 1800’s.
 What is Research?
• “The process of gathering data or information to solve a particular a
specific problem in a scientific manner” -
B. Manuel & C. Medel, A Practical Guide to Methology of Research and Thesis Writing)

• The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in

order to establish facts and reach new conclusions. - Wikipedia

• An organized and systematic way of finding answers to questions or to

solve a particular existing problem.
 Ultimate Purpose and Goal of Research
• Preservation and improvement of the quality of life.

• To serve man.

… “for the good life.” (Carter Good and Douglas Scates, Methods of Research:
Educational, Psychological, Sociological)
 The general characteristics of
qualitative research...

 Data sources are real-world situations

 Data are descriptive
 Emphasizes a holistic approach

(processes and outcomes)

 Data analysis is inductive
 Describes the meaning(s) of research

finding(s) from the perspective of the

research participants
Uses inductive reasoning…
…involves developing generalizations
from a limited number of specific
observations or experiences
…highly dependent on the number and
representativeness of the specific
observations used to make the
generalization
What are the Strengths/ advantages of qualitative?

1. One advantage of qualitative methods in exploratory research is

that use
of open-ended questions and
probing gives participants the opportunity to respond in their
own words, rather than forcing them to choose from fixed
responses, as quantitative methods do. Open-ended questions
have the ability to evoke responses that are:

• meaningful and culturally salient to the participant

• unanticipated by the researcher
• rich and explanatory in nature
2. Another strength/ advantage of qualitative methods
is that they allow
the researcher the
flexibility to probe initial participant
responses – that is, to ask why or how.
3. Exploratory Advantage. The
researcher can get an in-depth
responses to make the study
substantial
• Weakness/Issues in qualitative
research...
a. gaining entry
b. contacting potential research
participants
c. selecting participants
d. enhancing validity and reducing
bias
e. leaving the field
 a. gaining entry...

 access is very much dependent upon

the researcher’s personal
characteristics and how others perceive
the researcher
may require considerable negotiation
and compromise with a gatekeeper
 trust is earned, not given
 b. contacting participants...
 gaining access
 dealing with gatekeeper(s)
 issues of building trust and

ensuring confidentiality and

anonymity
 c. selecting participants...
 is fraught with difficulties in
identifying and selecting an
appropriate number of participants
who can provide useful information
about the particular topic and setting
being studied
 d. The threats to validity in
qualitative studies...

observer bias…

…invalid information resulting from the

perspective the researcher brings to
the study and imposes upon it
 e. leaving the field…
 The question is when and how to exit
…the bonds formed with study
participants complicate leaving the
setting
…time constraints
…when the amount of accessible data is
sufficient
The Nature of Qualitative Research
• Promote a deep, holistic
understanding of a particular
phenomenon
 Purpose of qualitative research
• Qualitative research is the collection, analysis, and
interpretation of comprehensive narrative data in
order to gain insights into a particular phenomenon
of interest
 Useful for describing and answering questions
about participants and contexts
Importance of exploring qualitative topics

• Provide insight into the complexity of common

occurrences
• Provide specific concrete details to guide
understanding in a particular setting
• Provide insight into the “local” meanings that
activities & practices have for participants
• Develop a comparative understanding of
phenomena as experienced by different
participants in different settings.
 Six General Steps
• Identify the research topic
• Review the literature
• Select the participants
• Collect data
• Analyze the data
• Report the results
 Point to Ponder:
What is the application of
Qualitative Research in Life?
Parts of Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM AND REVIEW OF LITERATURE
• Background of the Study
• Review of Related Literature
• Conceptual Framework
• Statement of the Problem
• Significance of the study
• Definition of Terms